PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Punt, Punt, Punt, Fumble, Punt-Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett did not panic after failing on the first five tries Saturday against Clemson. Pickett would throw touchdowns on the next two possessions to give Pitt the lead and eventually a 27-17 win.
You can say to shut out the noise and not listen to the hype, but Pickett had to know the importance of this game for the program and his Heisman Trophy chances.
He didn’t panic. He didn’t go out of the offense to try and make a play. He stuck with it. On the first TD drive, Pickett hit Jared Wayne on a tight throw for 13 yards to convert a third and 10. He would run it for three yards on a third and two. On a third and seven from the 23, a roll out called and Pickett hits sophomore Jordan Addison in the back of the end zone for a 23-yard TD.
Next drive facing a fourth and five from the Tigers 39, Pitt goes for it and Pickett finds Taysir Mack to put the Panthers ahead.
Kenny’s Feet
It wasn’t just Pickett’s arm that beat Clemson, his legs were key as well. Five times Pickett ran for a first down, including an eight-yard run and seven-yard run on the drive following Clemson’s touchdown to make it 27-17 with 7:56 to play. The Panthers ran out the clock from there.
“We are going to put the ball in his hands,” Narduzzzi said. “We are going to ride with Kenny.”
“I knew the situation in the game where if we got two more first downs, it was kind of over,” Pickett said. “I knew they were burning time outs. I told (Coach) Whipple to keep the ball in my hands. I wanted to do it myself. The guys up front did a great job.”
“My first thought is man, he’s a winner,” said linebacker SirVocea Dennis said of Pickett’s running. “If our head leader is doing all of that for us. If he’s doing that, I can do a little bit extra for him. Kenny doing that is showing everyone else it’s time to fight for him as well.”
“He’s one of those players that don’t like losing,” said freshman tailback Rodney Hammond, Jr. “He is going to do whatever it takes so we don’t lose.”
Pickett would gain 27 yards on the ground and finished with seven rushes for 15 yards when you factor in sacks.
Pickett All-Time Record
With the touchdown pass to Addison, Pickett became Pitt’s all-time leader in completions surpassing the 867 by Alex Van Pelt (1989-92). Pickett is 180 yards behind Van Pelt in total offense and 1,047 behind in passing yards with five games left in the regular season.
Pickett had his 12th career 300-yard passing game, that is two from tying Van Pelt for first all-time.
Pickett holds the Pitt all-time record with 18 rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.